Vending machine having improved magazine for storing and dispensing articles



April 28, 1959 F.- c. DU GRENIER ET AL. 2,

VENDING MACHINE HAVING IMPROVED MAGAZINE FOR 4 STORING AND DISPENSING ARTICLES I 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 1, 1955 April 28, 1959 F. C. DU GRENIER ET AL VENDING MACHINE HAVING IMPROVED MAGAZINE FOR STORING AND DISPENSING ARTICLES Filed Nov. 1, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inward/024s.- 1

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April 1959 F. c. DU GRENIER ET AL 2,884,163

VENDING MACHINE HAVING IMPROVED MAGAZINE FOR STORING AND DISPENSING ARTICLES Filed Nov. 1, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 f g I 4 an n I v v A U U 1 :11" 1520232503 13: I Edazacau's llflw Gfleza'etj I 1 31232113 B.Pez 8;&3,

6 7 mm Qd'c' mamav April 28, 1959 F. c. DU GRENIER ET AL 2,384,163

I VENDING MACHINE HAVING IMPROVED MAGAZINE FOR STORING AND DISPENSING ARTICLES fliioa neyJ Apnl 28, 1959 F. c. DU GRENIER ET AL 2,884,163

VENDING MACHINE HAVING IMPROVED MAGAZINE FOR STORING AND DISPENSING ARTICLES Filed Nov. 1, 1.955 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 L l I .\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\1 5\\ .l'zwezziofls: Manuals 0. Da 62 m v 1 3 112215 1!. Peflzii, fig M, 06 r PM v fliibvezeya United States Patent VENDING MACHINE HAVING IMPROVED MAGAZINE FOR'STORING AND DISPENS- ING ARTICLES Francis. C. Di! Grenier, Iiaverhill, and Frank B. Perri, Groveland, Mass.; said Perri assignor to Blanche Bouchard, Haverhill, Mass.

Application :NOVe'niber 1, 1955, Serial No. 544,298

6. Claims. ((3 1.221-90) This invention relates to vending machines and more particularly to an improvement in the magazine section of a vending machine as, for example, of the type shown 'in our applicationSer. No. 243,234, filed August 23, 1951, now Patent No. 2,726,749.

It is an object of this 'invention'to provide in a vending machine an improved magazine comprising a plurality of article-storing sections each characterized by a series of shelves arrangedjin a vertical column, each shelf being ivotally mounted adjacent one end, releasable 'latchmeans for holding the shelves in a predetermined article-supporting position, and means operated by a movable selector element for releasing said latch means whereby said shelves in ascendingsuccession arejpivoted by gravity to a predetermined article-releasing position.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a vending machine having arnjagazine section comprising a plurality of pivotally mounted shelves arranged in a vertical column-for storing articles to be vended, a plurality of latch elements each associatedwith one of saidshelves, said latch elements normally holding said shelves in a first predetermined article-supporting position, and means operated by a conventional selector element for releasing said latch elements in ascending succession whereby said shelvesjmey be shifted in turn tov apredetermined articlereleasing position.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in. Connection, with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view inside elevation of a vending machine embodying the present invention, the section being taken along line 1-1 of Fig. 3;

Fig.2 is an enlarged sectional view in front elevation of a portion of the magazine section, taken along line 2.2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 2;

'Fig. 4 is a plan section taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view in elevation taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 6 is a plansection taken along line 6--6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is-an enlarged fragmentary sectional view in front elevation, taken along line, 7 --7 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view similar to Fig. l, but with bar 82 removed for clarity; and,

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan sectional view taken along line 9 -9 of Fig. 8.

Basic structure Referring now to Figs. 1 and '2 in particular, there is shown some ofthe structure of 'a vending machine of the type described 'in our copendingapplication Ser. No. 243,234. Only so much of the basic vending machine structure is shown as is believed necessary to facilitate comprehension of the present invention, it being understood that the invention is applicable to other specific types of vending machines as well.

2,884,163 Patented Apr. 28, 1959 In Figs. '1 and 2, the right and leftside panels of the machine are identified by numerals Z-an'd 4 respectively and the rear panel by "the -numeral 6. Secured to and extending between the two-side panels is a fourth panel which is bent as shown in Fig. 2 to provide a horizontal floor 8, an upstanding vertical wall 10, and at its f'ro'rit edge a depending vertical wall; -1'2'-'at'its rear edge. Wall 12 is spaced from rearpanelo to provide'a' space through which articles released from the magazine "section can fall to a deliverychute {not shown). Positioned-in-front of depending wall 12 withits ends journale'd in side'panels 2 'and 4 is an operating shaft-16. The latteris bent so 'that its ends are oflise't fromthe main body of the shaft, like-a crank. in Fig. 1 numeral 18 indicates the "Ieft'h'and journaled end and numeral 20 indicates the "main body'o'f the shaft. Although *not shown, it is to be understood that the right hand end 'o'fshaft T6 is operatively associated with a coin controlled -mechanism of the type, for example, illustrated in the aforementioned copending application Ser. No. 243,234.

Slidably positioned on horizontal floor '8 is 'a plurality of operating levers or handles 30, each of'which extends through 'suitable openings in upstanding vertical wall '10. Secured to the rear end of each lever 30 isasolid member 32'provided with a depending =hook 34. Floor 8-is slotted to'p'ermit the level-"and hook to be pulled forward hythe operator. Pivotally mountedin a recessed portio'n on the side of each solid member 32 is 'a'pawl 3'6. Pa-Wl 36 has an upstanding extension 38 at its rear end and "a small depending extension 40 at its front end. The ce'nter of gravity'of pawl 36 (as seen in Fig. 1) is "in advance of pivot in 42 so that, in the absence orany restraining force, the pawl tends to rotate in a counterclockwise 'di- 'rection. Floor '8 is provided with a plurality of small openings. or slots 44 each in 'aline'ment -with one of 'the extensions 40 of'p'awls 36 so that'when'no force is applied to the 'pawls, they will hang down with their entenshins-40 in'the slots 44. Thus when the'operating handles 30 are pulled forward, the aforesaid dependin -extension of pawl 36 will be caught in floor 8. Since pawl .36 is mounted in a depression in the side of solid-element3 2, -'so that it is capable-ofonly limited rotation, it is-not-pos- 'sible to draw the operating handle through the stroke required to operate the machine. However, when the "rear 'e'nd-of p'awl 36 is depressed to lift extension 40 out of' slot 44, the handle is free to be operated fully.

The improvement The improvement achieved by the present invention resides in the magazinesection associated with the'pr'eviously described conventional structure. Secured to rear panel 6 and hem member 8 in parallel spaced relation to each other and to side panels 2 aud t; .is aplurality of partitions 54'which "together define a plurality of magazine sections 56. Also secured to rearpanel 6 is a horizontal top panel 7 having a depending flange 9 with a plurality of slots 11 for receiving the top endsofpartitions 54.

In Figs. 2 and 3 two adjacent magazine sections 56a and 56b are established by two pairs of partitions 54a, 54b, and 54c, and 54d, respectively. The purpose ofconstructing the magazine sections as illust-rated istofacilitate their manufacture as subassemblies and to allow for flexibility in the number of sections embodied in a vending machine.

Each of the partitions is providedwith averticalseries of openings for receiving Jshort wire spindles 58. The wire spindles are bent at one 'end 59 and 'retainedvin place by retaining plates 6'0v secured to alternate partitions, as, for example, partitifons 54b. and 54d. Plates '60, are, secured tov the alternate partition by; suitable bent at an angle.

means, 'e.g. screws, rivets, or spot welds. understood that by simply increasing the length of spindles 58, one spindle may be used for two or more magazine sections. 4 Mounted on each wire spindle 58 is a flat shelf member 64. Eachshelf member is provided at its forward edge with a downturned flange 65 and is also deformed at its opposite edges adjacent its forward end to provide a collar 66(Fig. and an opening 68 (Fig. 3) through which a spindle 58 extends. Along their left hand edges (as viewed from the front of the machine) shelf members 64 have a large upturned flange 70. Attached to thebottom of each flange is an elongated flat spring member 72 which extends forwardly beyond the front edge of the shelf member. All of the spring members are alike except spring member 72t attached to the topmost shelf 64t. The front end of each of the other spring members is provided with an upstanding extension 74 whose top edge 76 is curved to conform to a section of circle concentric to spindle 58. At its rear edge extension -74 is provided with an inturned flange 78 In addition the front end of each spring member, includingportions of upstanding extension 74, is bent at a slight angle to the plane of the spring, as illustrated best in Figs. 3 and 6.

Top spring element 72t is'of substantially similar construction except that its upstanding extension 74: extends forwardly and vertically to a greater degree and is not Secured to the left hand partition of each magazine -section,-e.g. 54a and 540, is a vertical bar 82. The latter in cross section comprises a forward section 82a offset relative to a rear section 82b which engages the adjacent partition 54. Bar 82 is secured to the partition by means of rivets 84 (Fig. 5

The forward edge of bar 82 is of unique sawtooth ;-shape,;-comprising in alternate ascending succession, a

-its top'end down to approximately the level of the top" shelf. An inclined slot 95 is provided behind the forward face 93. Horizontal supporting braces 97 are mounted between the two partitions of each magazine section'to provide greater rigidity.

It is to be Positioned between each bar-82 and its adjacent partition 54 is a series of latch elements 96. Each latch element is provided adjacent its bottom end with an elongated slot 98 through which extends one of the spindles 58. Each latch element is rotatable on its associated spindle. The front edge 100 of each latch element is irregular or stepped being provided adjacent the bottom end with a forwardly extending hook element 106 which is bent at an angle to the main body of the latch element away from 'theadjacent magazine partition. The front .edge'of each latch element is also provided with a right angle finger or flange 108. Each finger 108 is located substantially equidistant the ends of front edge 100 so that, when the latch member is in its lowermost position, that is, where spindle 58 engages the top of elongated slot 98, finger 108 will be in position to be engaged byaflange 78 of spring member 72, as in Fig. 5. In addition, each finger 108 (except for the finger of the topmost latch element96t) extends in front of an inclined face 92 of bar, 82 so as to engage the latter when the latch element is shifted from a vertical to an inclined position.i The finger 108t of the top latch element is positionedin slot 95 so as to maintain the top latch memher in an inclined position at all times as shown. In Fig. 5 the upper and intermediate latch elements are in an inclined-position and the'lower one is in a vertical position. At its top end each'lat'ch element is also provided with a longitudinal extension 110 which defines in conjunction with the front edge 100 a shoulder 112. The latter is located just below the bottom end of the next higher latch element when the latch elements are in their lowermost position relative to spindles 58. Each of the latch elements is urged in a counterclockwise position (Fig. 5) by a helical spring 114, one end of which is connected to hook element 106 and the other end of which is hooked to the adjacent partition as at 116,.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 3 and 8 in particular, there is provided at the'top of each magazine partition a lever 120. The lever is bent as at 122 so as to lie partly on one side and partly on the opposite side of the partition. The rear end of the lever is pivotally secured at 124 to the partition. Along its bottom edge lever is provided with a short arm 126'which is in alinement with the topmost latch element. When the top latch element 962 is in its lowermost position, as in Fig. 1, lever 120 is in a substantially horizontal position. However,

when the top latch element 9613 is shifted upwardly by the next lower latch element, as explained hereinafter, it engages arm 126 of the lever, causing the latter to be pivoted upwardly to the position of Fig. 8i Pivotally connected to each lever 120 at 128 between the front end of the lever and arm 126 is a depending vertical wire rod 130. At its bottom end each rod 130 is pivotally connectedto the upstanding flange 132 of a metal plate 134 bent as shown. At its rear end plate 134 is pivotally se cured to a horizontal. shaft 136 which extends through each partition. Shaft 136 is anchored to the side panels to prevent it from moving axially. Each plate 134 is disposed in vertical alinement with one of the ejectors 32. So long as lever 120 is held in slightly elevated position by the topmost latch member as in Fig. 8, its associated plate 134 will be in raised position relative to solid member 32. However, when lever 120 is in a horizontal position as in Fig. l, pla'te I34 will be in a lower position in contact with the upstanding projection 38 of pawl 36. In the latter situation, pawl 36 will be held in raised or unlocking position, that is, its depending extension 40 will be outof opening 44, and the solid element 32 is free to be moved by the operating handle when shaft16 is unlocked for rotation upon deposit of suitable coins in the coin. controlled mechanism (not shown).

Slidably mounted on the bottom end of each alternate partition adjacent its front edge is an actuating plate 140. Plate 140 is disposed on the reverse or outside side of the partition and is provided adjacent its top and bottom ends with a pair of elongated slots 142 and 143. Plate 140 is maintained in s lidable relation with the partition by means of screws.144 and 145 which extend through slots 142 and143 respectively. At its rear'edge plate 140 has an offset upstanding arm 146 which extends through a slot 148 in the partition. Arm 146 lies parallel to the inside surface of the partition with its top end in close proximity to the'bottom end of the lowermost latch element. At its front edge plate 140 has a forwardly extending arm 150 provided with a pin 152 to which is attached a tension spring 154. The opposite end of the spring is secured to a pin'156 attached to the front flange in spaced parallel relation to the member 32. Plate 134 is cut away as at 168 (Fig. 4) so as to permit roller 160 to be positioned just abovecam plate 164. As seen in Figs. 1 and 8, the upper edge 170 of cam plate 164 slopes upwardly toward the rear so that when the operating handle is drawn forward to start the vending operation,

the upper edge of the cam plate acts to cam or force roller 160 and actuating plate 140 in, a vertical direction. When the operating handle is pushed rearwardly to complete the vending operation, roller 160v and actuating plate 140 are pulled downwardly to their original position by spring 154.

The machine is loaded and operated, as follows: Assuming that all of the shelf members are in the position occupied by the bottom shelf members illustrated in the bottom portion of Fig. L, that is, with all of the shelf members in article-dispensing. position, the attendant presses down on the downturnedfront. flange65i'of each shelf member in turn so. as to rotate each shelf member counterclockwise (as seen in Figs. 1 and 8,). As-each shelfis rotated the front end of each spring member 72 engages the finger 108 of 'theparticular latch member 96 associated with the shelf and, is cammed. or sprung laterally by the finger. The shelf is rotated, sufficiently to bring inturned flange 78 of the springpast finger 108, of

the latch element, whereupon the spring automatically returns to its original. unfiexed. position. Thereupon the attendant releases the shelf so that it will tend of; its; own weight to rotate clockwise. However, flange 78, of the spring now engages and locks against the forward side of finger 108, causing the latch element 96 to rotate clockwise from its vertical position. The latch element, however, rotates only enough to, clear the bottom end of the next higher latch element, being stopped against further rotational movement by the inclined face 92 of bar 82 which is engaged by finger 108* of the latch element, as shown in Fig. 5. The shelf is thereby held-in a slightly inclined position as shown in Fig. 5 and; the top portion of Fig. 1. In this position the rear end of the shelf is only slightly spaced from the rear; panel of the machine, so that an article placed on the shelf will not be able to slide off the shelf and-drop vertically between the shelf and rear. panel 6. This position of the shelf is the article storing position.

Whenthe top shelf 64 of a magazine-section, e.g. 56b, is pivoted upwardly, the upstanding extension 74L of spring member 72! slides out from under finger .108; of latch member 961, permitting the latterto, drop along the line of slot 93 until the top spindle 5 8t;-engages the upper end of elongated slot 98t. Latch member-96t-drops sufiiciently far to allow, lever 120 todrop fromjthe-inclined'position shown inFig. 8 tothe horizontal; position of Fig. l. Plate 134 follows lever 120 and drops into contact with pawl 36, shifting the latter to, unlocking position, as shown in Fig. l. The operating handle associated with magazine section 56b is thus ready for operation and may be Operated if the coin controlled mechanism has been unlocked by suitable coins,

All of the magazine sections are readiedfor: opera tion in the same manner. After their shelves. have been raised to storing position, articles to be vended, e.g. candy bars, are placed thereon. The articles are in,- serted from the front and are prevented from sliding off of the shelves at the rear because of the proximity of the rear panel to the shelves.

Assuming now that a customer has inserted coins totaling the correct amount in. the machine so as 'togre'lease or cock the coin controlled mechanism, and that an article stored in a particular magazine section or col,- umn is desired to be purchased, the customer merely pulls on the operating handle associated with the pan ticular magazine section. Since plate; 134 is holding pawl 36 in unlocked position, the handle and its solid member 32 are free to move forward. As. cam plate 164 moves forward, it cams roller 160. and. actuating plate 140 upwardly. Arm 146 engages the lower end of the bottom latch element (in inclined position) and shifts it upwardly relative to its spindle '58 behind and in a direction parallel to the next higher-inclined latch element. As the bottommost latch member moves. up- 'wardly its finger 108 moves above the. upstanding lex- 6 tension 74, of spring 72, thereby unlocking the bottom shelf. The latter pivots. downwardly due to gravity to release its article to the delivery chute. When the operating handle is pushed back to its original position, actuating plate 140 also drops to its original position. This allows the bottommost latch element to shift downwardly relative to spindle 58. At the :same time spring 114 pulls the bottommost latch element in a counterclockwise direction to a substantially vertical position. It is prevented from moving beyond the vertical position by virtue of the engagement made by its longitudinal extension 11-0 with the rear edge of the next higher .latch element. Its shoulder 112 thus is disposed directly beneath the bottom end of the next higher or second latch element. .Now when the operating handle is again pulled forward, the bottom or first latch element will again be shifted vertically by actuating plate 140. This time, however, it does not slide behind the next higher latch element. Instead, due to the fact that spring 114 :has pulled it to a vertical position, it engages the bottom end of the second latch element, and shifts the latter upwardly behind the next higher or third latch element,

to free the spring element 72 with which it was in 'engagement and thereby release the second shelf. Again as the operating lever is pushed rearwardly, actuating plate 140 returns to its original position. The two latch elements (first and second) again :drop relative to their spindles 58, with the second latch element being pulled by .its spring 114 to a vertical position in alinement with the first or bottom latch element. The second latch element is thus positioned to engage and shift the third latch element to release the third shelf the next time.

the operating handle is drawn forward. Each time the handle is operated another latch element is shifted upwardly to releasev a shelf and then rotated to a vertical position for subsequent shifting of the next higher latch.

element. Each latch element, when in a vertical position, functions as an extension of arm 146 of actuating plate. 140.

Plate 134 remains in the position "of Fig. 1 so long as'the top shelf 6.42 is in article releasing position. How

ever, assuming that all but the top shelf have been released, so that all of the latch elements below the top one 96t are now in vertical alinement, with arm 146 of actuating plate 140, the top shelf will be released the next time that the handle is operated. Thereafter, when latch element 96t is shifted upwardly to release the topshelf, its shoulder 112 engages and lifts lever *t-o the position illustrated in 'Fig. 8, thereby moving plate 134 off of pawl 136.

Upon the return of actuating plate to its "original position, all of the latch elements except '96; will also drop relative to their spindles 98. In the case 'of latch element 96t, however, 'it will be supported in the position shown in Fig. 8 by spring. extension 72t which lies parallel to the partition instead of being bent as in the case of extension 72 of the lower spr'ing elements. Lever 120 in turn is supported by latch element 962 so as 'to keep plate 134 off of pawl 36. Thus 'When the operating handle is moved rearwardly to complete its operating stroke, pawl 36 automatically falls into hole 44, locking the handle against further forward movement until the magazine section has been replenished with articles to be vended. i

It is to be noted that when the first or bottom shelf .is released, it drops against and is supported by horizontal shaft 136 so as not to interfere with member 32 or cam plate 164 (Fig. 1). The second or next higher shelf, when it is released, drops down until it engages flange 70 of the bottom shelf. Flange 70 supports the second shelf in parallel spaced relation with the first shelf, as seen in Fig. 1. Each of the othershel fifi, after being released, is in turn supported bythe shelves below it.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts specifically described or illustrated, and that within the scope of the appended claims it may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described or illustrated.

We claim:

1. In a coin-controlled vending machine, a magazine for storing articles to be vended, said magazine compr sing a pair of parallel spaced vertically extending partitlons, a plurality of spindles secured to and horizontally extending between said partitions, said spindles being spaced one above the other, a like plurality of vshelves disposed between said partitions, each shelf being pivotally secured at one end to one of said spindles, an arm attached to each shelf, each arm having an upstandmg pro ection, a like plurality of latch elements each provided with an elongated axially extending slot adjacent its lower end through which one of said spindles extends, said latch elements being rotatable relative to said spmdles, said latch elements also being shiftable relative to said spindles from a lower level to a higher level due to said slots being longer than the diameter of said spindles, each latch element having a finger extending at an angle to the plane of said latch elements, said fingers when said latch elements are at said lower level extending in the path of said upstanding projections whereby to be engageable therewith, said shelves when said projections are in engagement with said fingers acting of their own moment to rotate said latch elements in a first direction away from the vertical, means limiting rotation of said latch elements in said first direction whereby by virtue of the engagement between said upstanding projections and said fingers said shelves are maintained in a predetermined article-retaining position, a tension spring associated with each latch element urging said elements in the opposite direction of rotation toward the vertical and acting to keep said latch element at said lower level, the moment of said shelves being in excess of the opposing influence of said tension springs whereby said latch elements are inclined to the vertical so long as said upstanding projections are engaged by said fingers, said latch elements when shifted upwardly relative to their spindles moving out of engagement with said upstanding projections to release said shelves and allow said shelves to pivot of their own weight to a predetermined article-releasing position, each latch element after being shifted upwardly to release its associated shelf being shifted to said lower level and rotated in said opposite direction by its associated spring element to a vertical position, wherein the top end of said each vertical latch element is in line to engage the bottom end of the next higher latch element when it is again shifted upwardly, and mechanism for shifting the bottommost latch element upwardly, whereby to release the bottommost shelf and allow said bottommost latch element to be rotated by the action of the spring associated therewith to a vertical position, in readiness to shift upwardly the next higher latch element when said mechanism is again operated.

2. In a coin-controlled vending machine, a magazine for storing articles to be vended, said magazine comprising a pair of parallel spaced vertically extending partitions, a plurality of spindles secured to and horizontally extending between said partitions, said spindles being spaced one above the other, a like plurality of shelves disposed between said partitions, each shelf being pivotally secured at one end'to one of said spindles, an arm attached to each shelf, each arm having an upstanding projection, a like plurality of latch elements each provided with an elongated axially extending slot adjacent its lower end through which one of said spindles extends, said latch elements being rotatable relative to said spindles, said latch elements also being shiftable relative 8 to said spindles from a lower level to a higher level due to said slots being longer than the diameter of said spindles, each latch element having a finger extending at an angle to the plane of said latch elements, said fingers when said latch elements are at said lower level extending in the path of said upstanding projections whereby to be engageable therewith, said shelves when said projections are in engagement with said fingers acting of their own moment to rotate said latch elements in a first direction away from the vertical, means limiting rotation of said latch elements in said first direction whereby by virtue of the engagement between said upstanding projections and said fingers said shelves are maintained in a predetermined article-retaining position, a tension spring associated with each latch element urging said elements in the opposite direction of rotation toward the vertical and acting to keep said latch element at said lower level, the moment of said shelves being in excess of the opposing influence of said tension springs whereby said latch elements are inclined to the vertical so long as said upstanding projections are engaged by said fingers, each latch element when in inclined position being out of engagement with the next higher latch element and remaining out of engagement therewith when shifted axially of its inclined position to said higher level, said latch elements when shifted upwardly relative to their spindles moving out of engagement with said upstanding projections to release said shelves and allow said shelves to pivot of their own weight to a predetermined article-releasing position, each latch element after being shifted upwardly to release its associated shelf being shifted to said lower level and rotated in said opposite direction by its associated spring to a vertical position, wherein the top end of said each vertical latch element is in line to engage the bottom end of the next higher latch element when it is again shifted upwardly, and means operable to shift the bottommost latch element upwardly, whereby to release the bottommost shelf and allow said bottommost latch element to be rotatedby the action of the spring associated therewith to a vertical position, in readiness to shift upwardly the next higher latch element when said last-mentioned means is operated again.

3. In a coin-controlled vending machine a magazine for storing articles to be vended, a plurality of spindles extending horizontally across said magazine, said spindles being spaced one above the other, a plurality of latch elements each having a finger extending at an angle to the plane thereof, each latch element being provided adjacent its lower end with an elongated axially extending slot through which one of said spindles extends, said latch elements being rotatable on said spindles, said slots permitting said latch elements to be shifted radially of said spindles from a retracted position wherein said fingers are closer to said spindles to an extended position wherein said fingers are further from said spindles, stop means limiting rotation of said latch elements in a first direction and normally supporting said latch elements in an inclined position with said fingers disposed above said spindles, said latch elements when in said inclined position being in parallel spaced relation to each other with the top end of each latch being disposed to one side of the bottom end of the next higher latch element, a plurality of springs each connected to one of said latch elements, each spring urging its associated latch element in a second direction of rotation opposite to said first direction whereby to pivot said latch member from said inclined position to a vertical position, each spring normally holding its latch element in said retracted position, and a plurality of shelf members each pivoted at one end to one of said spindles, said shelf members being rotatable relative to said latch'members, said shelf members each having an upstanding projection, said projections being positioned to lockingly engage said fingers when said shelf members are pivoted relative to said latch members in said second d1- rectionrof rotation, said shelfmembers ,when said projections and fingers are engaged acting of their own movement to overcome said springs and rotate said latch elements to said inclined position determined by said stop means, said shelf members when said latch elements are held thereby in said inclined position being supported by said latch elements in a predetermined article-retaining position, said shelf members being rotatable by gravity in said first direction to a predetermined article-releasing position when said fingers are disengaged from said projection, said fingers and projections becoming disengaged when said latch elements are shifted to said extended position while supported by said stop means, each latch element after being shifted to extended position to release its associated shelf member being shifted to retracted position and rotated in said second direction away from said stop means to a vertical position by its associated spring whereby the top end of said each vertical latch element is in line to engage the bottom end of the next higher latch element when it is shifted upwardly again to extended position, and manually actuatable means operable to shift the bottommost latch element upwardly, whereby to release the bottommost shelf member and allow said bottommost latch element to be rotated by the action of the spring associated therewith to a vertical position, in readiness to engage and shift upwardly the next higher latch element when said manually actuatable means is again actuated.

4. The combination of claim 3, further including means actuated by the topmost latch element when the topmost shelf member is released to article-releasing position for locking said manually actuatable means against further operation.

5. The combination of claim 3, wherein said manually actuatable means comprises an operating handle, an actuating plate, means mounting said actuating plate for vertically reciprocal motion, means carried by said operating handle for camming said plate upward each time said handle is operated, means for moving said actuating plate downward after it has been moved upward, and means carried by said actuating plate for engaging the bottommost latch element and shifting it to extended position when said actuating plate is cammed upward upon operation of said handle.

6. The combination of claim 5, further including locking means for preventing operation of said operating handle, means normally holding said locking means in an inoperative position, and means for releasing said locking means to prevent operation of said handle, said lastmentioned means being actuated by the topmost latch element when said topmost latch element is shifted to extended position to release the topmost shelf member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,672,236 Varndell June 5, 1928 2,483,352 Settecasi Sept. 27, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 136,598 Great Britain Dec. 18, 1919 

